Improvement in wire-motions for looms



3SheetsSheetZ. W. WEBSTER..A WIRE MOTION FOR LOOMS.

No.174,714;. Patented March14.,1a7e.

WIT??? @Lgf/X I 3 Shee'rQS-SheetIB.

vW. WEBSTER. WIRE Mo'ToN Foa Looms. v No.174.,714. PatentedMarch14-,1a7s.

f 'f///// v H mi- Wr/wv MN UNITED STATES PATENT GEEICE.

WILLIAM WEBSTER, O F MORBISANIA, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO WEBSTER LOOMCOMPANY.

AIMPROVEMENT IN WIRE-MOTlONS FOR LOOMS..

Specification forming part of Letters- Patent No. 174,711.1, dated March14, 1876; application filed November 5, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM WEBSTER, ofMorrisania, county and State of New York, have invented certain new anduseful Improvementsin Wire-Motions for Looms; and that the following,taken in connection with the drawings, is a full, clear, and exactdescription thereof.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of parts of a loom withmy improvements applied thereto, the wire-box, &c., being in section;and Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same on the wire-box side. Theother figures are of details, some of them being on a large scale, andthey will be described hereafter.

Prior to the date of my invention, numerous wire-'motions for looms havebeen devised and put in practice; and I desire especially to callattention to an early wire-motion of BigeloWs, patented May 5, 1857, andto those patented by myself in May and August,ll868, and in August,1872. 'In the last of these there is described a latch which takescharge of a Wire from the commencement ,of the With drawal to thecompletion of the insertion thereof, which latch is operated by astationary resisting-surface, being the latch herein described; and inBigelows patent there is described means of supporting the wire in itstransfer from the point of withdrawal to the point of insertion, whichsomewhat resembles that herein described, while in my patent of 1868there are described spring-holders resembling the one used in my presentWiremotion.

I have invented one new element; but my invention consists, chietly, inan adaptation of or new combinations of old devices.v

In my present Wire-motion there are used a wire-box, open toward thelay, a stationary surface thereon to operate the latch, a latch, and alay, so shaped as to clear the wire-box, all asin my former Wire motion,patented in 1872; but in this loom I dispense with the wire-trough, anduse a beak-support for that endof the wire which is nearest the boxwhile being transported, and in this loom, like my patented one of 1872,the construction and arrangementof parts are such that I can use ashuttle-box rigidly attached to the lay on .the Wire-box side of theloom.v

In the drawings the lay of the loom is represented at ct a, actuated, bypreference, by cranks and connecting-rods, (see Figs. 1, 2, 3., and 6but it maybe driven in any known Way, and it is depressed so as to workunder the bottom of the wire box, and has the rear side of theshuttlebox slotted out at b b, so as to clear the rear end of thewire-box. This construction is represented in Fig. 3, which is a topview, on a large scale, of the wire-box, and a part of the lay, with theshuttle-box, and slot for the picker-staff. In lieu of thisconstruction, I sometimes intend to use the bent-back lay of Bigelow, orother known forms oflay whichy will clear the Wire-box. The wire-box isrepresented atc, (see Figs. l, 2, 3, 4, and o it occupies the usualplace, has va bottom on which the wire heads rest, a top to cover them,and is opened at the rear end, or that nearest the lay, so that wiresmay be enteredV into the shed diagonally or parallel to the fell of thecloth through the box, or may be inserted partially into the shed, andthen moved sidewise into the box. Its top is shaped so as to lift thelatch when the latchs nose is shoved against it, and it has a slot inthe top at d, into which the hook of the latch can drop, so as to seizethat wire which is to be withdrawn.

This wire-box is substantially like that described in my patent dated27th August, 1872, No. 130,961. The latch which withdraws the wires andtakes charge of them until they are inserted is represented at e, (seeFigs. 1, 7, 8, and 9,) Fig. 7 showingthe latch and its spring f, insideelevation, on a large scale, with the Wire-box and spring-holder insection, and Fig. 8 being partly a top view of and partly a horizontalsection through the same parts.

This latch is pivoted uponia head-block, g,4

(see Figs. 1, 7, and 8,) attached to the upper end of a long vibratingarm, h1, and the latch is forced downward by spring, f, which bears uponthe latch or a projection therefrom, one end of the -spring beingsecured to the headblock.

Now, the wire head cannot be held during its transportation from thefront end of the wire-box to the open shed by the latch alone, or evenby a latch aided by a shelf below it, and moving with it, as shown atg1, (see Figs. 7 and 8,) said shelf' being part of the headblock. Ihave, therefore, employed a spring-v holder, k, to perform this duty.(See, specially, Figs. 7 and 8.) This spring-holder is a block of metalwith a vertical slot in one end of it just large 'enough to receivefreely the' end of a wire head. It slides in a recess in the head-block,and is pushed outward bya coiled spring, lc.

The operation of these parts is as follows: When the hook of the latchis moving toward the breast-beam, or forward, it is held up by thewire-box, and the spring-holder lies far back in its recess, being heldthere-against the force of the spring by the'ends of the boxed wireheads, over which it slides or passes. When the latch comes over theslot in the top of the wire-box its hook is forced down by its springand takes hold of a shoulf der or nick in that wire headwhich isnearest' the breast-beam. (See Fig. 7.) The latch and head-block nextmove away froln the wirebox to withdraw the wire; but the springholderfor a time stands still, as its spring holds its outer end against thewire heads which are in the box. The latch, therefore, pulls the wirehead which it has hold of into the slot in the spring-holder, .and thenthe latter moves with the hook and head-block. The wire, being now incharge vof the hook,and supported sidewise by the spring-holder, isdrawn out and transported rearward to the point of insertion. Thehead-block, hook, and spring-holder next move toward the wire-box toinsert the wire, the wire being shoved in that direction by thespring-holder in its mo tion with the head-block until `thisspringholder brings up against the heads of those wires which are boxed.The spring-holder is then shoved into its recess by the motion of thehead-block forcing the 4holder against the boxed wire heads, the wirebeing shoved home by the top of the recess at g, '(see Fig. 7, whichshows the parts in the position of withdrawing a wire,) and the latchbeing lifted by its nose striking against the top of the wirebox. Afterthe latch is lifted the wire is disengaged both from the latch aud thespring-y holder, land these, two, with the head-block,

. move toward the breast-beam, the latch being held up by the wire-box,and the spring-'holder being held into its recess by the heads ofl the'of a wire outward far enough to pull a wire out; then rearward farenough to transport the wire to the place of insertion in the openshe-d; then inward far enough to shove the wire holne into the shed andbox, and, lastly, forward to the point of withdrawal. Further, theout-and in motions must be suspended while the head-block moves forwardlalong the boxed wire heads. When the lay has'a shuttie-box rigidlyattached, the motion forward vmust be in such time, in reference to theforward movement of the lay, that the latter shall not strike thehead-block.

In order to impart the requisite motions to the head-block, I have usedmechanism very like that of Bigelow. The long arm hI is pivoted to aradius-bar, h2. This latter is mounted on a pin on an arm, h3, attachedto arockshaft, h4. `Another arm, h5, depends from this shaft, andcarries a headed pin, which is embraced by a slot in the lower end ofthe long arm h1. In consequence of this construction, (see Fig. 1,) thelong arm and head-block can move out and in from the position shown inFig. l to that indicated by a dotted line, and can be moved from frontto rear from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that indicated by a dottedline, by the rocking of the shaft h4.

The out-and-in motions are derived from a cam, m, mounted on acounter-shaft, m1, which is driven by proper gearing, as indicated inFig. 1. This cam acts upon a bowl or frictionroller secured upon ahanging lever, m2, which is pivoted at its upper end to the loom-frame.The lower end of the lever m2 is, by means of a connecting-rod, m3,connected to the long arm h1; consequently, as the cam revolves, theconnecting-rod, (whose bowl is forced against the cam by a spring,) thelong arm, and the Ihead-block move out and in, and the headblockmoveshorizontally, or nearly` so, in consequence of the manner in whichit is supported.

The rear and forward motions of the headblock to transport the wire areproduced by `the rocking of the rock-shaft, as follows: To

this shaft is secured an arm, n, with a frictionroller on its end, whichrests upon a cam, n', on the ordinary cam-shaft. The roller is held incontact with the cani by a spring, (not shown on the drawings,) and asthe cam revolves the rock-shaft, and consequently the head-block, attimes stands still, and at others rocks, the head-block being thus movedforward and rearward. The cams shown in the drawings will give theproper motions at the Aproper times for a wire inserted 'at every otherbeat of the lay.

An intelligent loom-builder can easily modify cams and gearing for othernumber of beats to each insertion of a wire; but care must be taken inall'cases that the head-block comes up to insert a wire while the lay isout of the way, and that it shall move forward to the place ofwithdrawal ota wire in advance of the movement ot' the lay to beat upwhen a rigidlyattached shuttle-box is used, so that the latter shall notstrike the head-block. I prefer to cause the head-block to pause aninstant in its forward and rearwardvmotion while the wire is beingboxed, and to that end I make the rock-shaft cam of the shape shown inFig. 2.

It is hardly necessary to direct the con` structer to make thejoints or"the connectingrod with considerable play, as such is a common device inlooms 5 but they must have such play in order to compensate for themotion ot' the melf-shaft.

I have thus particularly described the meehanism for moving thehead-block, but intend at times, when more convenient, to substitutetherefor otherknown mechanical devices,which will impart the requisitemotion thereto.

The wire in charge of the hook and springholder is held firmly at thehead end, but would not by these means alone be carried with its pointin proper position.

Bigelow used a fork which had an upanddown and a forward-and-backwardmotion to control that part of the wire nearest the wirebox, when thewire was partiallyor wholly withdrawn.. I could use, and at times intendto use, his fork in connection with my latch and spring-holder, butprefer to use a beakcontroller invented by myself, which is soconstructed that it will operate properly when having motions -in twodirections only-viz., forward and rearward-whereas the fork ot' Bigelowmust have not only these motions, but, in addition, motions upward anddownward.

This beak is shown on a large scale in Figs. 9 and 10. It is composed oftwo springs, nearly meeting'at their free ends, and fastened on a statt'at their other ends, the whole thing forming a pair of springjaws, andbeing, by preference, made ot' one piece of metal,

and the free extremities being curved, so as to guide a wire into thespace between the springs.

Vhen the beak in its movement rearward reaches a partially-withdrawnwire,the springs strike the top and bottom thereof', and open,permitting the wire to pass between the sprin gs where they approachnearest. The wire is then contained between the springs, is supportedthereby, and moved when the beak moves.V

When the wire is nearly boxed, the beak advances or moves away from thelay toward the breast-beam, and the springs open the wire held by theother wires in the box and by the spring-holder, escaping outof the beakby the opening of its springs. One spring in combination with a stili'rod will answer, or two jaws forced together by springs, or olle jaw anda rod.

When a beak like that shown in the drawings is used I prefer to slot thestati" horizontally, or nearly so, in order that the wire shall beguided by the springs into the slots, as shown in Figs. 9 and 10; butthis is a mere refinement to hold the wire more steadily, and it can -beheld ljust as steadily by properly shaping the springs ora'aws.

This beak moves forward and backward only, and its first position is sovnear the breastbeam (see Fig. 2) that while going toward the lay it cangrasp partially-'withdrawn wire;

then it'stands still till the wire is wholly withdrawn then moves towardthe lay so far as to carry the point ofthe wire to the place ot'insertion thereofI into the shed; then pauses until the wire is partlyinserted; then moves in the reverse direction, slipping oft1 the wirewhich is being boxed, and proceeding to its iirst position, ready tograsp another wire. Its motions must be so timed that it will grasp awire when partially withdrawn, and let go of it when partially inserted,and when it transports the wire toward the lay it should move nearly orexactly in coincidence with the rearward motion ot' the head-block. Thestaft' of this beak is free to rock at its lower end upon a shaft orpin, and is provided with an attached arm, which is actuated by a camand spring, the latter not shown 'in the drawings. As the cam revolves,the staff and beak will move toward and away from the lay, and at timesstand at rest--viz., during part of the withdrawing and part ot' theinserting mo tion-and the movement being so timed that neither thehead-block nor the shuttle-box or lay shall strike the beak. -The camwhich actuates the beak is represented in the drawings as so shaped thatthe beak will work properly in a loom where a wire is inserted at everyalternate beat. Th e intelligent constructer can easily modify it, so asto be used in looms where more beats intervene between the wireinsertions. e

I wish it understood that the beak itself, acting as described, is of myinvention, irre. spective of any special means for giving it propermotions, and that l intend to use other known mechanical means formoving and supporting it than those described, and also to use it incombination with other means than those described for supporting andcontrolling the wire head.

As the head-bloek might possibly tumble over on its staff, l intend attimes, as a meas ure ot' precaution, to extend the connecting rod beyondthe long arm h1, and pivot upon the extension another arm, w, the upperend of which is to be attached by a pivot to the head-block. Such aconstruction will hold the head-block horizontal, even when no wire headis contained in it.

I also intend to use at times the head-block and its appurtenances asshown by Figs. 12 and 13, which represent a side and top view of thesame, as a modification of the'headf block and appurtenances Aas :shownby Figs. 7 -nnd `8.

I claim as of myown invention- 1n o loom Vl'or weaving pile fabrics, theeombilmtion, with n lever und n ben-k, having -sprin,gf-jaws forseizing'` the end of the pile wires, of meclmnism, 'substantially asdescribed, for imparting to such lever a. vibra.-

tory motion. als `and for the purpose setl'orth.`

2. In combination with the spring-beak and operating' mechanism hereindescribed', a. head-block provided .with mechanism for inserting andwithdrawing the 'pile-Wires, its vand for the purpose set forth.

3. In combination with the head-block, the

spring-beak herein described,a.nd theispring-ll helder, themechanism,substantially as ile-- scribed, for withdrawing the pile-wirefrom the wire-box, as set forth.

4. The combina-tion ofthe spring-beek, the

head-block, the spring-holder, and the latch, constructed usand for thepurposes set forth. 5. lIn combination, the spring-holder, the

latch, the wire-box, the long` vibrntinf.;r arm,

(for carrying said holder and latoh,) lend mechl'anism for supportingthepoint of 'thelwire, :is

'shown and described.

6. In combination withthe head-block, the

spring-holder, the mechanism Vfor withdrawing the wires, the longvibrating arm for carryling the head-block, and Vthe-mechanism here-

